Cold Turkey from hrt

Hi all, I am thinking about getting off my hrt. I have one ovary and I want to see if I can survive with out hrt. Has anyone here just cold turkeyed it? If so, what was your experience, did you still get hot flashes or anything? And is it a wise thing to do? I do not plan on talking to my Dr. about this, I know where she stands on the subject. I mostly am interested if anyone suffered any withdrawls, or anything from just stopping them. Thanks!!

I don't have personal experience as I had both ovaries removed, but my mother had a TAH with one ovary removed and kept the other when she was in her 30s and she did fine and never was on HRT.

I would say, "Don't do it." I am 55 and thought I wasn't producing any estrogen anymore. Had total Hysterectomy, both ovaries, in December. Did really well first 8 weeks or so. Doctor kept asking me if I was having hot flashes, and I said no. Felt like I did before. Then about a month ago it hit me like a ton of bricks. Joints popping, muscles hurting, skin wrinkling, hair feels funny, I can't think straight or talk right sometimes, can't sleep, am constantly freezing (or waking up in a ball of sweat at night), headaches, circulation gone in my hands and feet, you name it. I am a wreck. I believe what estrogen I did have took a few weeks to leave my body, and now I am really hurting. I called the doctor's nurse a week ago and she said she would talk to him about getting me some low-dose estrogen, but she never has called me back. About ready to jump off the nearest bridge!

OK, I have to say it: Talk to your doctor.

But.. I went cold-turkey off my hrt. After my 1st surgery (TAH/BSO), I was put on a low-dose (Estratest sp?). I took it for about a month (and still had hot-flashes/insomnia but not too bad). I asked my gyn/onc if I should stop and she said to just stop taking it if I wanted. So I did. The hot flashes are more frequent (but I dont know what caused it -- stoping the hrt or the 2nd surger). I do have to say that overall, I just plain felt better when I stopped (I didnt feel so moody). I dont know if it was just all in my head or if stopping really helped. Right now, I'm just waiting for a few weeks to see if she recomends going back on or not. This is just my experience...

TammyH

tonjha,

I stopped hrt cold turkey. I did tell my doctor though. I would suggest telling him/her even if they don't agree with your decision. Let them know why you are stopping the estrogen so they can put it in your chart.

I had a tah/bso and I'm doing well without estrogen. I do use natural progesterone cream, natural estogen creme, and estroven pm.

It has been some trial and error though finding what works best for me. Everyone is different.

Best of luck to you..

Where do you get estrogen cream? TY for the input. I think would be a help to me.